Developers chosen for Festival Gardens regeneration scheme

Liverpool City Council has chosen a joint venture company, led by Urban Splash and igloo Regeneration, to led the Festival Gardens scheme.

The two award-winning companies have come together in a unique partnership to collaborate on creating an innovative and sustainable housing scheme on the landmark riverside site.

Founded in Liverpool in 1993, Urban Splash has continued to pioneer the creation of great homes and workspaces across the wider Liverpool city region and beyond. Its vast portfolio includes the transformation of the Ropewalks in the 1990s, to creating commercial estates like the Matchworks in Speke to large scale regeneration projects across the country.

igloo is a national sustainable developer known for launching the world’s first UN-recognised responsible real estate investment fund in 2002, and becoming the UK’s first real estate B Corp in 2016. The company has led the delivery of many transformative, award-winning waterside schemes across the UK such as Ouseburn Valley Newcastle, Trent Basin Nottingham, and Dundashill Glasgow.

Montagu Evans is assisting the City Council as part of a multi-disciplinary team comprised of project delivery consultant and construction expert Mace, architecture and urban design group Metropolitan Workshop and architectural practice Shedkm.

The prime brownfield development scheme, one of the largest in northern England, has the backing of Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Part of a wider 90-acre site, Festival Gardens’ Development Zone extends to 27 acres and sits just three miles south of Liverpool city centre.

The remediated site occupies a stunning waterfront location, benefitting from outstanding green and blue infrastructure with the Festival Gardens parkland, first opened in 1984 and including formal Chinese and Japanese gardens, and the River Mersey immediately adjacent.

Development will be centred on phased, residential-led plans and multigenerational living with a range of housing types and tenures, maximising delivery and including more than 20% affordable housing.

The Council intends for the creation of a thriving, sustainable, healthy and inclusive neighbourhood with a strong identity and sense of community, developed using innovative design and building techniques to meet local housing need.

The announcement comes two years after the opening of the Southern Grasslands – Liverpool’s first public park of the 21st century – a 37-acre green lung which adjoins the site and was created from the award-winning remediation of the development zone.

A Liverpool City Council meeting in September will seek permission for the authority to enter into contract with the new JV company. If approved, the Council will work closely with Urban Splash and igloo to finalise legal agreements and agree a clear timeline for future stages of planning and development to bring delivery forward as quickly as possible.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Nick Small, said:

“We are thrilled to announce Urban Splash and igloo Regeneration as our development partners for Festival Gardens — one of Liverpool’s most iconic regeneration sites. This visionary joint venture is a bold step towards delivering an amazing housing scheme befitting this stunning location.

“These developers have a fabulous track record in delivering outstanding innovative and sustainable projects of the highest order. I can’t wait for our residents to see the details over the coming months.”

Find out more about Festival Gardens here.

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